School of Biosciences and Technology

Continuous Assessment Test III, May,2015

M.Tech Biotechnology, Semester II
Sub: Biochemical Engineering BIT518

Duration: 1 & hrs Max Marks:40

Answer all the questions
Part A (4X5=20)

1. Fumaric acid is produced from malic acid using the enzyme, fumarase. Calculate the
standard heat of reaction for the following enzyme transformation.
C4H60 5 -- C4H40 4 + H20.
(malic acid) (fumaric acid)
Given heat of combustion for malic acid is -1328 kJ gmol-1; heat of combustion for
fumaric acid is -1334 kJ gmol-1
2. The volumetric flow rate of carbon tetrachloride (CCl 4) in a pipe is 50 cm 3 min -1. The
density of CCl 4 is 1.6 g cm -3.
(i) What is the mass flow rate of CCl4?
(ii) What is the molar flow rate of CCl4 ?

3. Describe classification of products based on product formation kinetics.

4. Breifly explain unstructured mathematical models with atleast 2 equations
Part B (20)
5. Aspergillus niger is used to produce gluconic acid. Product synthesis is monitored in a
fermenter; gluconic acid concentration is measured as a function of time for the first 39 h of
culture.
Time Acid concentration
(h) (g1-1)
0 3.6
16 22
24 51
28 66
32 97
39 167
Determine the rate constant.
(b) Estimate the product concentration after 20 h.
6. Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast produces ethanol from glucose under anaerobic
conditions without external electron acceptors. The biomass yield from glucose is 0.11 g g-1 for
yeast. The nitrogen source is NH 3. Cell compositions are represented by the formula CH 1.8 0 0.5
N 0.2.
(a) What is the yield of ethanol from glucose
(b) Estimate the maximum possible product yield.
1. A fermentation slurry containing Streptomyces kanamyceticus cells is filtered using a
continuous rotary vacuum filter. 120 kg h- 1slurry is fed to the filter; 1 kg slurry contains
60 g cell solids. To improve filtration rates, particles of diatomaceous-earth filter aid are
added at a rate of 10 kgh- 1. The concentration of kanamycin in the slurry is 0.05% by
weight. Liquid filtrate is collected at a rate of 112 kg h-1; the concentration of
kanamycin in the filtrate is 0.045% (w/w). Filter cake containing cells and filter aid is
continuously removed from the filter cloth.
(a) What percentage liquid is the filter cake?
(b) If the concentration of kanamycin in the filter-cake liquid is the same as in the
filtrate, how much kanamycin is absorbed per kg filter aid? ( 10 marks)

2. Saccharomyces cerevisiae is grown anaerobically in continuous culture at 30~ Glucose is

used as carbon source; ammonia is the nitrogen source. A mixture of glycerol and ethanol
is produced. At steady state, mass flows to and from the reactor at steady state are as
follows: glucose in 36.0 kg h-1; NH 3 in 0.40 kg h-1; cells out 2.81 kg h-l; glycerol out 7.94
kg h-1 ; ethanol out 11.9 kg h-1; CO 2 out 13.6 kg h- 1 ; H20 out 0.15 kgh -1
Estimate the cooling requirements.
Given molecular weight of glycerol = 92; heats of combustion of glucose= --2805.0 kJ
gmol-1; Heats of combustion of ammonia = - 382.6 kJ gmol -1; heats of combustion of
glycerol = - 1655.4 kJ gmo1-1; heats of combustion of ethanol = - 1366.8 kJ gmol-1;
heat of combustion for yeast = - 21.2 kJ g- 1 ( 15 marks)

3. A strain of mold was grown in a batch culture on glucose and the following data were
obtained.

Time(h) Cell concentration(g/l) Glucose Concentration(g/l)

0 1.25 100
9 2.45 97
16 5.1 90.4
23 10.5 76.9
30 22 48.1
34 33 20.6
36 37.5 9.38
40 41 0.63

a) Estimate the specific growth rate( graphically).

b) What maximum cell concentration can you expect if 150g of glucose was used with
same size inoculum? ( 15 marks)
 School of Biosciences and Technology
Continuous Assessment Test III, May,2015
M.Tech Biotechnology, Semester II
Sub: Biochemical Engineering BIT518

Duration: 1 Max Marks:40

Answer all the questions
Answer all the questions

1. (i) What are mathematical models? ( 5 marks)

(ii) Differntiate between structured and unstructured models. ( 2 marks)
(iii) List any 3 unstructured models. ( 3 marks)
(iv) Describe briefly the various stages of batch growth. ( 5 marks)

2. (a) Two methanol water mixtures are contained in separate tanks. The first mixture
contains 40.0 wt% methanol and the second contains 70.0 wt% methanol. If 200 kg of the
first mixture is combined with 150 kg of the second, what are the mass and composition
of the product? ( 5 marks)
(b) You have 1.5 pounds of gold. Find its volume in cm3 if the density of gold is 19.3
g/cm3. ( 5 marks)

3. A crude fermenter is set up in a shed in the backyard of a suburban house. Under

anaerobic conditions with ammonia as nitrogen source, about 0.45 g ethanol are formed
per g glucose consumed. At steady state, the production rate of ethanol is 0.4 kg h -1.
The owner of this enterprise decides to reduce her electricity bill by using the heat
released during the fermentation to warm water as an adjunct to the household hot-water
system. 2.5 litres h- 1 cold water at 10C is fed into a jacket surrounding
the fermenter. To what temperature is the water heated? Heat losses from the system are
negligible. Use a biomass composition of CH 1.75 O 0.58 N 0.18 plus 8% ash. heats of
combustion of glucose= --2805.0 kJ gmol-1; Heats of combustion of ammonia = - 382.6
kJ gmol -1; heats of combustion of ethanol = - 1366.8 kJ gmol-1; heat of combustion for
yeast = - 21.2 kJ g- 1
(15 marks)